The two pairs are strongly negatively correlated most of the time, because EUR and CHF move together against the dollar. But there are differences:
- Range: USDCHF usually has a smaller daily range than EURUSD.
- Spread: a bit wider on most brokers, so the cost relative to range is higher.
- Behaviour: CHF reacts to risk-off moves as a safe haven, so it can diverge from EUR during market stress.
- SNB risk: rare but serious surprises. 2015 is still a reminder.
- As confirmation. If EURUSD breaks a level and USDCHF does the mirror move, I trust the break more.
- As a warning. If EURUSD rises but USDCHF doesn't fall, it's often EUR-specific news, not a dollar move.
- Rarely as a trade itself, only on clean dollar-driven days.
Does anyone trade USDCHF as a main pair? How do you handle the smaller range?